Lamp string



April'29, 1941. i w. J. GEIGER iETAL LAMP STRING Filed Oct. 30, 1937 Ilhven co fsz Walter- J. Geiger,

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP STRING Walter J.Geiger and Reginald J. Ayres, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors toGeneral Electric Comp y, a corporation of New York Application October30, 1937, Serial No. 171,932

11 Claims.

ter type of string possesses a number of desirable features but it alsohas a disadvantage in that the failure of one lamp necessitatesdiscarding the entire string.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide an inexpensive stringsuitable for use with double-ended lamps. Another object is to providesuch a string employing holders from which vindividual lamps may beremoved and replaced.

Still another object is to provide a string for double-ended lamps inwhich the holders are tied together as an integral unit when one or morelamps are removed. Other objects and advantages of our invention willappear from the following description of species thereof.

, In the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views of .two lamp stringscomprising our invention; Fig.

3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale and partially in section,of one of the lamps and holders in the string; Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a modified eyelet for use in the lamp holder; Figs. 5, 6 and 7are side elevations of modificaticns of the lamp holder, Figs. 5 and '7being partially in section; and Figs. 8 and 9 are a section and an endview of another modification of the lamp holder.-

The string of lamp holders comprising our invention may, if the lampsare to be connected in series, be arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2wherein each string includes a series of five double-ended lamps It. Thetwo strings differ only in the means provided for connecting their endsto the line, which consists of a single plug II in Fig. 1 and separateplugs or connectors I2 and I3 in Fig. 2. In eachinstance, the lamps ||lare supported by a holder M of the type shown in detail in Fig. 3 whichhas sockets l5 at its ends joined by a 'springy or resilient strap orbridge member Hiwhich permits said sockets l5 to be pulled apart for theinsertion and removal of the lamp I0. Eachsocket |5 comprises a bodyportion. of an insulating material, such as medium soft rubber, and isattached to the strap It by laterally extending strip portions of thestrap which are bent around the outside of the said body portion H.

The metal terminal members or bases l8 of the lamp III, which in thiscase is of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,191,346, February 20,1940, Alfred Greiner, are sealed directly to the ends of the bulb l9 andare somewhat smaller than the opening in the end oiv the socket bodyportion 11.

The ends of the terminal members l8 are also somewhat rounded so thatthey extend into the central openings in the metal eyelets 20, therebypreventing lateral movement of the terminal members in the sockets IS.The eyelet 20 is fastened to the section of flexible insulated conductor2| connected to this particular lamp holder M by means of a plurality oftongues 22 (only one being shown) which are pressed through theinsulating cover 20' of the conductor 2| and into 'contact,with the wire2|. The said tongues 22 conduct the current from the wire 2| to theeyelet 20 which in turn conducts it to the terminal member I8 of 'thelamp I0. Since the eyelet 20 is fastened securely to the conductor 2| bythe indented sections 22 and is provided with a flange 23, it transfersall strain on the said conductor to the socket IS. The said eyelet fitsso snugly in the aperture in the body portion ll of the socket l5 as toremain in position therein after the lamp ID has been removed therefrom.The insulating body portion ll of the socket I5 extends a short distanceover the end of the lamp H! to shield and protect the conductiveterminal members l8 from contact with extraneous articles.

Obviously, there are many other ways of, attaching the eyelet 20 to theconductor 2|, and it may be found desirable to remove the insulation 20'from a portion of the end of said conductor and connect the wire 2| tothe eyelet by means of solder 24, as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, thetongues 22 of theeyelet need not be pressed into contact with the wire2| but need be pressed only partially into the insulation 20 I so thatthey cannot be pulled from the conductor 2|.

The lamp holders comprising our invention may be modified as shown inFig. 5 wherein a wire type of spring 25 joins the sockets 26 of moldedinsulating material. The ends of the spring 25 are molded directly intothesaid sockets 26 and the mid portion of the said spring 25 is bentinto a loop 28 to facilitate attaching the holder to a limb of aChristmas tree or other object. The lamp holder may also be modified inother ways. For example, Fig. 6 shows a hook 29 and Fig. 7 shows areflector 30 attached to the strap Ii joining the sockets IS. The hook29 provides a convenient way of hanging the lamp holder and may, ifdesired, be used with a holder having the reflector 3| shown in Fig, 7.The said reflector 30 is preferably made of polished metal and has anelliptical rim to conform generally to the shape of the lamp.

Another modified lamp holder 3| is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In thisinstance, the connecting strap or, bridge member 32 between the sockets33 at the ends of the holder 3| is rigid and is molded together with thesockets 33 as a unit. Because of the rigidity of the strap 32, thesockets 33 are constructed differently in that springs 34 are providedbehind the contacting buttons 35 attached to the ends of the conductors2| connecting the separate lamp holders 3 l The lamp 35, which in thiscase is shown with conventional bases 31 ce-' mented to its ends, iswithdrawn from the holder II by first forcing it toward one end of theholder so that one of the springs 34 is contracted and the base 31 atthe opposite end is withdrawn from its socket 33.

While we have shown and described certain preferred species of ourinvention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious omissions, substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising anindividual bridge .member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted toreceive the -bases of a double-ended lamp, said holders beingmechanically connected only by a plurality of flexible conductors, onlyone of said conductors extending between a pair oi' successive holdersand being electrically connected to one socket of each holder therebyconnecting said holders in series.

2. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising anindividual bridge member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted toreceive the bases of a doubleended lamp, contact means in each of saidsockets for engaging and supplying current to the lamp base therein andspring means for pressing said contact means against said lamp bases,said holders being mechanically connected only by a plurality offlexible conductors, only one of said conductors extending between apair of successive holders and being electrically connected to onesocket of each holder thereby connecting said holders in series.

3. A decorative string for double-ended electric l'amps comprising aplurality of holders, each of said holders comprisinga pair of spacedsockets connected by a resilient bridge member and adapted to receivethe bases of .a double-ended lamp, said resilient bridge member being arranged to force said sockets toward each other to grip the lamptherebetween, and a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of saidconductors extending between a pair of successive holders and beingelectrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connectingsaid holders in series.

4. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising anindividual bridge member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted toreceive the bases of a double-ended lamp, contact means in each of saidsockets for engaging and supplying current to the lamp base therein andspring means disposed between said contact means and the end of itssocket for pressing said contact means against a lamp base, said springmeans permitting sufficient longitudinal movement of the lamp in itsholder to free one of the lamp bases from its socket and allow removalof the lamp from its holder, said holders being mechanically connectedonly by a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of said conductorsextending between a pair of successive holders and being electricallyconnected to one socket of each holder thereby connecting said holdersin series.

5. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of holders, each of said holders comprising a pair of spacedsockets connected by a resilient metal strap and adapted to receive thebases of a double-ended lamp, said resilient metal strap member havinglateral eX tending end portions bent around said sockets and beingarranged to force said sockets toward each other to grip the lamptherebetween, and a plurality of flexible conductors, only one of saidconductors extending between a pair of successive holders and beingelectrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connectingsaid holders in series.

6. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of holders, each of said holders comprising a pair of spacedmolded sockets for receiving the bases of a double-ended lamp and aresilient metal strap member having its ends molded into said socketsand arranged to force said sockets toward each other to grip the lamptherebetween, and a plurality oi flexible conductors, only one of saidconductors extending between a pair of successive holders and beingelectrically connected to one socket of each holder thereby connectingsaid holders in series.

7. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of holders, each of said holders comprising a pair of, spacedsockets connected by a bridge member and adapted to receive the bases ofa double-ended lamp, said bridge member having a loop therein by whichthe holder may be supported, and a plurality of flexible conductors,only one of said conductors extending between a pair of successiveholders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holderthereby connecting said holders in series.

8. A decorative string for double-ended electric lamps comprising aplurality of individual holders, each of said holders comprising anindividual bridge member connecting a pair of spaced sockets adapted toreceive the bases of a double-ended lamp, a reflector mounted on saidbridge member for redirecting the light from the lamp, said holdersbeing mechanically connected only by a plurality of flexible conductors,only one 01. said conductors extending between a pair of success siveholders and being electrically connected to one socket of each holderthereby connecting said holders in series;

9. A holder for a decorative string for doubleended lamps comprising apair 01' spaced sockets each having a body portion of insulatingmaterial with an opening theretbrough enlarged at its forward end, aflexible conductor section extending outwardly from each of saidsockets, a flanged eyelet secured to an end of each of said conductorsections and disposed within one or said socket body portions with theflange thereon against the shoulder formed by the enlarged portion ofthe opening in said socket body portion, and a resillent bridge memberconnecting said pair of sockets and arranged to force them toward eachother to grip a lamp therebetween.

10. A holder for supporting a single doubleended lamp in a decorativelamp string comprising two spaced sockets each having a contact therein,a flexible conductor extending outwardly from each of said sockets andelectrically connected to the contact therein, and a bridge memberextending in a direction along the line between said sockets andconnecting and holding said sockets in opposed relation, at least aportion of one of said sockets being relatively movable away from theother socket to permit insertion of the bases of a double-ended lamp insaid sockets.

11. A holder for a decorative lamp string comprising a pair of spacedand opposed sockets each having a contact therein, a. flexible conductorextending outwardly from each of said sockets and electrically connectedto the contact therein, and a resilient bridge member connecting saidsockets and permitting relative separation of the sockets for insertionof the bases of a double-ended lamp therein.

- WALTER J. GEIGER.

REGINALD J. AYRES.

